#This Expansion's Own Mechanics (擴張機制)

Contents

A collection of extended interpretations of the core rules. It defines, in an integrated way, the new categories, exception handling, and balance principles that this expansion introduces. It does not violate core 03-04 Energy and Breath·03-05 Wounds and Defeat·03-06 Combat Flow·03-07 Maneuver System.

Principle of Use: When introducing this expansion's own rules, the topmost authority is the core. This expansion only adds its own categories and exceptions on top of the core. The lowest-level exception handling makes it clear on the spot that it is an exception.

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#§1. Energy-Dispersal Structure (活力分散構造)

#Scent

The core's one-breath limit of 5 is absolute. However, there exist actions that inherently cannot be finished in one breath, such as compound rituals, Tatsujin secret arts, and high-rank spells. These split into a preparation phase and an activation phase, and they are divided into two kinds according to the way preparation accumulates.

#Law — Two Dispersal Axes

(Prep): spend Energy split across several breaths within the same round. The start and the end do not fit within one breath, and attempting both preparation and activation in the same breath is treated as an action whose beat has collapsed. If Energy is sufficient, one action can be completed within one round.

(Disperse): an action that requires physical time across several rounds. To force completion within one round, exhaustion is triggered automatically (see §2 Exhaustion). As the price of compressing time, the sorcerer's or caster's mind breaks.

#Law — The Nature of the Preparation Phase = [Stance]

The preparation phase is treated as a [Stance]. The core 03-07 §Stance rules apply as is:

#§1.1 Focus Resistance Check

Not every hit breaks focus. This expansion sets the following principle.

Trigger: a resistance check is triggered when, while maintaining a preparation stance, you take a hit that meets one of the following conditions.

• a Critical Hit (the attacker's check is a Critical Hit·Heavenly Mandate)
• a hit that dealt 2 Wounds or more of damage

A mook's 1-Wound attack does not disrupt focus. Only a lethal-grade hit unravels a preparation stance.

Check formula:

2d10 + Physique + Hardiness proficiency >= 10 + breach Wounds

• breach Wounds: the Wounds value this attack actually reduced.
• Critical Hit 2-Wound hit → Target Number 11
• 3-Wound lethal hit → Target Number 13
• 5-Wound ultimate hit → Target Number 15

Success: the preparation stance is maintained. The spell·ritual continues.

Failure: all preparation Energy is lost. The effect does not activate. The slot·resource is treated as spent (no refund).

Hardiness proficiency recommended: a PC who often uses spells with long preparation times effectively requires Hardiness Trained (2 points) or Licensed (3 points). With Physique +2 or higher, the base attribute can compensate.

#Law — Notation Convention

Energy-cost notation:

Convention:

• The last number is the activation Energy. The numbers before it are the distribution of the preparation phase.
• The sum of the numbers is the total Energy cost.
• The ongoing cost of a sustained effect is described in the effect body, not the notation. The notation indicates only the casting cost.

#Law — Preparation Cancellation

By the PC's free will, preparation can be cancelled at the start of the next breath/round. No Energy refund — Energy already spent does not return. The stance slot is released.

#Application Cases

• 35 spells 3-dan and above: a per-dan base Energy scale + per-spell fine-tuning (ex2-35-01, ex2-35-02)
• 30-08 variant C cinematic combat: when 1 round = a 5-minute cinematic depiction, natural dispersal is possible
• This expansion's large ritual secret arts: Barrier formation, medium rituals, etc.

#Core Compatibility

The core's stance maneuver sustains indefinitely after declaring 1 Energy. The preparation stance of this §Energy Dispersal has finite duration (until activation or until cancellation). The two systems share a slot — no other stance is possible while preparing a spell.

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#§2. Exhaustion (脫盡) State

#Scent

The core's Energy 0 recovers automatically at the lull phase (maximum at the next round). However, when using some of this expansion's high-rank effects (Dispersed Casting, overstrained secret arts), a state arises in which recovery does not occur normally.

#Law

Exhaustion trigger conditions:

• When a (Disperse)-notation spell·secret art is force-completed within one round — automatic exhaustion with no check (§1 Energy-Dispersal Structure)
• an overstrained one breath (Overload failure)
• a secret art·Divine Treasure with an explicit "exhaustion" effect

Exhaustion effects:

• At the start of the next round, Energy = 1 (the maximum-value reset is nullified).
• From the round after that, normal recovery.
• stance·reservation both vanish.
• Defenseless effect auto-applied (1 round immediately after exhaustion).

Removal:

• automatic removal after 1 round (Energy recovers normally).
• some effects can remove it immediately (e.g., scholar Energy Transfer +5).

#Core Compatibility

It resembles the effect of a core 03-04 §Overload failure ("all remaining Energy this round vanishes + Defenseless"), but this §Exhaustion limits the next round's starting Energy to 1. A heavier penalty.

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#§3. Recovery and Energy Aid

#Scent

According to the core 03-04, Energy is an action resource that automatically returns to its maximum at the start of every round. Recovery·treatment·breath-aid effects are handled by dividing them, according to the nature of the effect, into Wounds recovery, Energy aid, and Energy Transfer.

#Law — Classification Principle

This expansion's recovery·resource-aid effects belong to one of the following three categories:

#Category A: Wounds Recovery (戰力回復)

• Target: effects of the injury-treatment school of thought, such as Medicine·Herbalism·Survival.
• Handling: Wounds +N recovery (external·internal wound treatment).
• Core compatibility: recovery of the Wounds score in the core 03-05 §Wounds.
• Cap: up to the person's maximum Wounds. Instant death (Wounds 0) requires a separate recovery art (relief type).

#Category B: Energy Aid (活力補助)

• Target: effects of the temporary action-resource-enhancement school of thought, such as breathing methods·mind methods·Divine Treasures.
• 3 kinds:

1. temporary +1 to one breath (1 round only, compatible with the core 03-04 §One-Breath Expansion table)
2. 0-count extra Energy (after reaching Energy 0, an extra 1 Energy action at 0 count — the last beat)
3. nullification of an Energy-reduction effect (block 1 time when receiving Energy -N from outside)

• Core compatibility: a limited·temporary application of the core's one-breath-expansion thinking.

#Category C: Scholar Energy Transfer (Core Domain, Separate)

The scholar Energy Transfer of the core 03-04 §Energy-Cost Handling is a separate category. It can stack with this §Energy Aid.

#This Expansion's Affected Items

#Notation Standard

• external-wound·treatment effects → state "Wounds +N recovery"
• action-resource-enhancement effects → state "Energy aid B-1/2/3"
• transfer → state "Energy Transfer" (follows the scholar core rule)

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#§4. Stance-Slot Exception Handling (姿勢例外)

#Scent

The core 03-04 specifies "Stance — only 1 maintained at a time." However, some of this expansion's schools (Joseon Sebeop·Joseon Spear Method) introduced "stance slot 2" — this is an explicit exception to the core rule.

#Law — Strict Control

#Exception-Recognition Conditions

A maneuver with stance slot 2 must satisfy all of the following conditions:

1. Limited to school secret arts·Divine Treasures: introduction via ordinary feats·ordinary weapon effects is forbidden.
2. Limited to one school: the stance slot 2 effect per PC activates only from a single school. Even if two schools' stance slot 2 overlap, the PC's slots are at most 2.
3. Imposition of an explicit penalty:

• while maintaining two stances at once, Energy one breath -1 (limit 5 → 4) — mental dispersion.
• or Evasion -1 (consciousness dispersed across stances).
• or relocation -1 Energy added (the burden of reconciling stances).

1. Explicit statement of a core stance conflict: note "this effect is an explicit exception to the core §Stance only 1 at a time rule."

#This Expansion's Application Cases

11-02 actually complies with the core 1-stance rule. It merely rotates 4 stances each round and does not maintain them simultaneously. The explicit exception does not apply.

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#§5. Balance Principle for Relocation Maneuvers

#Scent

The core 03-04 §Energy-Cost Reference: walking (adjacent 1 zone) 2 Energy / sprinting 3 Energy / leaping 3 Energy / mounted sprinting 1 Energy. For this expansion's relocation secret arts to be stronger than the core, they must satisfy 1 or more of the following 4 conditions.

#Law — 4 Balance Conditions (pick 1+)

1. A corresponding secret-art grade: an effect at the core secret-art (4-point Master) stage — the Energy cost can be the core -1 ~ -2.
2. A separate penalty: next round's action -1 Energy, stance-slot occupation, temporary Energy -2, etc.
3. A usage limit: state 1 round 1 time·1 combat 1 time·1 session 1 time, etc.
4. Limited to specific situations: rough terrain·desert·plains·mounted, etc. This is interpreted as a penalty exemption or a limited bonus — no effect in ordinary situations.

#This Expansion's Application Review

Only 16-01-03 desert escape lacks balance → a penalty addition is recommended (when that item is updated).

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#§6. [Technique] Maneuver Type — Core Definition + This Expansion's Usage Guide

#Scent

[Technique] is a maneuver type defined by the core 03-07 Maneuver System — not newly created by this expansion. The core specifies [Technique] as a maneuver tied to weapons·part of armor·consumables (the katana's "horizontal slash"·"thrust"·the great armor's "shoulder block"·smoke-bomb use, etc.). This § organizes this expansion's [Technique] usage guide.

#Law — Core [Technique] Definition (Re-cited)

The core's 6 maneuver types (per core [03-07]): [Kata]·[Stance]·[upkeep]·[aptitude]·[Tactic:Stance]·[Technique].

#Law — This Expansion's [Technique] Usage Principle

This expansion follows the core [Technique] definition as is. This expansion's [Technique] use is limited to the following categories:

1. Weapon-tied maneuvers — licensed techniques / masterwork techniques of this expansion's masterwork·divine-item·school-exclusive weapons.
2. Armor-tied maneuvers — effects tied to this expansion's divine-item armor (e.g., the Aegis shield).
3. Consumable-tied maneuvers — this expansion's consumable (40-01) use actions.
4. School secret arts (conditional) — secret arts tied to that school's weapon license (corresponding to the rank of a core licensed technique).

#This Expansion's Application Cases (Confirming Conformity with the Core Definition)

#Core Compatibility

[Technique] follows the core [03-07] definition. This § is for clarifying this expansion's usage. For a maneuver with no weapon·armor·consumable tie, [Kata] use is recommended.

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#§7. 0-Energy [Kata] Maneuver 2-per-Round Cap (Core Application)

#Scent

The core 03-04 §Rule 3 specifies "a 0-Energy [Kata] maneuver has an automatic cap of 2 per round." Some of this expansion's schools·minor items did not specify this — this § specifies it collectively.

#Law — This Expansion's Application Items

#Core Compatibility

It follows the core §Rule 3 as is. This § is for making the application explicit.

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#§8. Fiend Recovery Arts — Redefinition as upkeep Maneuver / Relief Type

#Scent

Some of the recovery effects of this expansion's fiend class (01-02) are ambiguous in meaning under the core rules ("corpse ingestion after combat," etc.). These are redefined into two categories.

#Law

#Category A: upkeep Maneuver (Lull Phase)

• Core compatibility: applies the core 03-06 §Lull upkeep-maneuver rule.
• Energy 0 (lull upkeep).
• Effect: a 1-time-only self-buff (Wounds recovery or a temporary bonus).

#Category B: Relief Type (Emergency)

• Emergency activation when conditions are met — a critical situation such as PC Energy 0 or Wounds 1 or below.
• Low Energy cost (1~2).
• 1 combat 1 time.
• Effect: emergency recovery (Wounds +N, Energy aid B-2 0-count extra 1 Energy, etc.).

#This Expansion's Application

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#§9. Qi-Exhaustion (氣盡) State (This Expansion's New Status Effect)

#Scent

If exhaustion (脫盡) is a desperate state of losing a whole breath, qi-exhaustion (氣盡) is a subtle state of having lost a beat — the breath is alive, but the beat shrinks by one breath. A state in which, right after a massive Medicine·a violent secret art, a warrior briefly cannot find their own beat.

#Law

Qi-exhaustion trigger conditions:

• a secret art·Divine Treasure·treatment with an explicit "qi-exhaustion for N rounds" effect
• a side effect of some Medicine·Herbalism·Survival secret arts (the price of external-wound recovery)
• forcing some [upkeep] maneuvers (when used outside the lull phase)

Qi-exhaustion effects:

• one-breath limit -1 (5 → 4) maintained for 1 combat or the specified rounds.
• a holder of Speed Master (one breath +2) also takes the same -1 (7 → 6).
• one-breath-expansion effects stack normally.
• stance·reservation are maintained normally.

Removal:

• automatic removal at the end of the specified period.
• can be pre-blocked by a "qi-exhaustion immunity" or "qi-exhaustion exemption" effect.
• immediate removal by some recovery arts (accompanied by Wounds +N).

#Distinguishing Exhaustion vs Qi-Exhaustion

Exhaustion is heavier. Qi-exhaustion is a living penalty.

#This Expansion's Application Cases

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#§10. Balance of Attack-Bonus Limiting Conditions (攻擊補助限定均衡)

#Scent

The core's ordinary attack is a weapon + skill check. A bonus of attack +5 or more appears in this expansion on some secret arts·Divine Treasures — this must be paired with a limiting condition. An unconditional +5 or more breaks core balance.

#Law — Limiting Conditions (satisfy 2+)

Attack +5 or more must simultaneously satisfy 2 or more of the following limiting conditions:

1. Stance·waiting accumulation: activate after maintaining a stance for N rounds, or [Kata] secret art + stance accumulation.
2. A designated target: pre-designated·lifelong target·ritual target, etc.
3. User Energy -N: a +5 bonus is Energy -1, +6 is -2~-3, +7 is -3 or more (the PC's own burden).
4. Accompanying instant-death check: attack +5 or more accompanies an instant-death check (compatible with the core §Critical-Hit instant-death rule).
5. Cause·environment limited: a restricted situation such as night·concealment·mounted·rough terrain·plains.
6. Critical-Hit-accompanied limit: the bonus activates only on a Critical Hit (8-10).

#Review of This Expansion's +6/+7 Items

#Core Compatibility

The weapon-bonus table of the core 03-03 Checks and Saves·07 Weapons·Armor is Issue Gear +0 / Fine Work +1 / masterwork +2 / Divine Treasure +3. This §'s attack +5 or more is the result of additional secret-art·environment bonuses accumulating onto the weapon bonus — if the weapon's own bonus is +5 or more, it violates the core. This expansion's masterwork/Divine Treasure weapons abide by their own +2/+3 cap.

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#§11. Barrier Wounds Unit (This Expansion's Own Barrier Unit)

#Scent

The core's impromptu Barrier is handled as devotion (Defense +2). The 1st-expansion Domain Barrier uses a domain-unit Barrier HP 100 scale. This expansion's 1-zone·5-zone·1-session·1-week-unit Barriers are objects directly attacked in combat·scenes, so they are run on a Wounds unit.

#Law — Separation of Barrier Units

#Law — Barrier Wounds Standard

This expansion's Barriers are objects that can be directly attacked in combat·scenes. Wounds are set according to the Barrier's scale and duration.

#Law — Barrier Wounds Handling

• A Barrier is run with the core 03-05 Wounds rule as is. On a hit -1 / on a Critical Hit -2.
• When Barrier Wounds reach 0, the Barrier collapses (effect ends).
• The Barrier's own Evasion·Defense = GM discretion (mostly handled as Evasion 0·Defense 10 devotion).

#This Expansion's Application Cases

#1st-Expansion Compatibility

Only the 35-15-15 9-dan Heaven-Earth Great Barrier is directly compatible with the 1st-expansion Domain Barrier HP 100 system. This expansion's Barriers operate on a Wounds unit in both the core and the 1st expansion (the 1st-expansion Domain Barrier is run separately).

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#§12. Morale·Madness·Cohesion Policy (Core = Cohesion Only)

#Scent

The core defines only Cohesion (squad Cohesion). Morale·madness·Fear are defined only in the 1st-expansion domain unit or in this expansion's variant modules. This § sets which system this expansion's many items' "morale ±N" notation corresponds to.

#Law

#Law — Madness·Trauma Handling

Madness·trauma depend on the 30-10 grimdark option or 30-03 variant B. In campaigns that do not use them, it is GM-discretion narrative handling (no mechanical effect).

#This Expansion's Application Cases

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#§13. Non-Combat Action Maneuver Type (This Expansion's New Creation)

#Scent

This expansion's 16-mobility (many mounted marches·Navigation·Infiltration·Disguise) has effects on a 1-session·1-day·1-week unit, yet its maneuver type is noted as [Kata] (round unit) — a type conflict. This § newly creates the [Non-Combat Action] type to reconcile this.

#Law — Definition

[Non-Combat Action]: applies the core 03-09 Non-Combat Check rule. The Energy cost abstracts advance preparation·stamina expenditure. No round-unit effect, with 1-session·1-day·1-week-unit results quantifiable.

#This Expansion's Application Cases

#Core Compatibility

[Non-Combat Action] is an application of the core non-combat-check rule — besides the core's 6 maneuver types ([Kata][Stance][upkeep][aptitude][Tactic:Stance][Technique]), it extends only the length of the time unit. No change to the core rules.

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#§14. Mapping of Undefined Concepts to Core Reuse (Core-First Policy)

#Scent

Many of this expansion's maneuvers use concepts with no explicit definition in the core (Infiltration·concealment·Disguise·tracking·mental states, etc.). This § maps them with a core-reuse-first policy.

#Law — Core Reuse Possible (No New Creation Needed)

#Law — This Expansion's New Creation Needed (Core Reuse Impossible)

Newly created in this §11·12·13·15 (Barrier·morale·madness·non-combat action·Critical Expansion).

#Partial New Creation (This Expansion's Own Table Added)

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#§15. Critical Expansion + Fumble Prevention (This Expansion 2 Only)

#Scent

The core's Critical Hit (会心) = 2d10 double + success (10% auto-trigger). The core's Fumble (失着) = double + failure (10% auto-trigger). This expansion introduces two variants into this system — Critical Expansion and Fumble Prevention — to aid the stability·determinism of some warriors·divine items·secret arts.

#Law — Critical Expansion (会心 擴張)

Definition: even without a double, recognize an adjacent-pip result (a combination where the two dice differ by 1) as a Critical Hit.

• double: (1,1)·(2,2)·...·(10,10) — 10 kinds
• adjacent pip: (1,2)·(2,1)·(2,3)·(3,2)·...·(9,10)·(10,9) — 18 kinds
• auto-probability when Critical Expansion is active: 28/100 (28%) (double + adjacent pip)

Restrictions:

• 1-step only. 2-step expansion (recognizing ±2 adjacency) is forbidden.
• This expansion 2 only — no application to the core·1st.
• Heavenly Mandate (10-10) recognizes only a double (adjacent pips 9-10·10-9 are Critical Hits but not Heavenly Mandate).

#Law — Fumble Prevention (失着 防止)

Definition: aid for a stable attempt. Mitigation of Fumble risk.

Effect:

• an ordinary double failure (Fumble) → downgraded to an ordinary failure (no Defenseless)
• Karmic Retribution (a 1-1 double failure) → handled as a Fumble (Defenseless)
• Result: Fumble risk 1/100 (1-1 only) — downgraded from the core's 10/100

Restrictions:

• This expansion 2 only.
• Can stack with Critical Expansion (Critical Expansion 28% + Fumble 1%).

#This Expansion's Application

#Core Compatibility

The core's Critical Hit·Fumble rules are unchanged. This § is an additional trigger variant when using this expansion 2 modules. In the 1st expansion·core alone, this §15 is void.

#60-11 Realism-Option Compatibility

The 60-11 #2 "Critical-Hit weakening" house rule is redefined as a Critical-Expansion-abolition option — core Critical Hit (10%) + this §15 Critical-Expansion abolition = core-alone operation.

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#§ This Meta's Authority

This §00-05 defines this expansion's own mechanics. It does not change the core rules. When it conflicts with the core, the core takes priority. This expansion's internal modules automatically reference this §.

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"On top of the core's breath, one more breath is laid. That one breath is this expansion's place."